Water: an Industrial Power Source

Water: an Industrial Power Source. . As with most mills during the Civil War, the Manchester Powder Mill was powered by water. Water mills were used in the production of many types of material goods, like paper, flour, lumber, and textiles. Water mills use the flow of water to turn a large water wheel, typically made of wood. A shaft connected to the water wheel axle is then used to transit the power from the water through a system of gears and cogs to work machinery. In this way waterpower can drive mechanical processes like grinding, rolling, or hammering. There are four main types of waterwheel; overshot, undershot, pitchback, and breastshot. The type of wheel used depended on the nature of the water source available., Mills that relied on water power needed access to a consistent, strong current year round, so they were usually located beside reliable streams or rivers. The Manchester Powder Mill was located along the Duck River, as were many other mills at the time. However, these mills still had to deal with the problem of seasonal water level changes. During the dry season, water levels in rivers can go down so much that the current becomes very weak, and doesn't turn the water wheel enough to supply the mill with sufficient power. Undershot wheels can even lose power all together. Many mills solved this problem by creating mill races. A mill race is a channel that conducts water to and from a mill's water wheel. Compared to the more broad waters of a river, this narrow channel provides a more swift and powerful current. The Manchester Powder appears to have remnants of what used to be a mill race. Using a mill race to divert water from the river would allow the buildings comprising the mill to sit farther back from the actual riverbank, which would protect them from possible flooding during the wet season.